English soccer player David Beckham catches a ball during the launch of his football skill DVD during a photo call in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Oct.1, 2004. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Gallery: David Beckham announces retirement

May. 16, 2013 @ 11:02 PM

The Associated Press

David Beckham announced on May 16, 2013 that he would retire from professional soccer at the end of the 2013 season.

Beckham began his professional football (or soccer) career in 1992 at the age of 17 with the professional team, Manchester United.

He has played on five other professional teams: Preston North End (on loan), Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, Milan (on loan) and Paris Saint-Germain.

Beckham is the highest paid football (or soccer) player in 2004 when considering his salary and advertising deals, and in 2007 he was given the highest salary in the Champions League history, with a 6.5 million dollar salary per year.

He is married to pop star Victoria Beckham with whom he has four children. Beckham was the runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.

Beckham is thought to have contributed to the popularity of U.S. soccer during his stint on the professional American team the Los Angeles Galaxy.